part 1 relive the original adventure of edgar hetteens trek through alaska

By the late 1950s, as a concept, snowmobiling, was moving along. But, for Edgar Hetteen at Polaris Indsutries its progress was much too slow.

In 1959 an old friend of Edgar's, Rudy Billberg proposed an expedition across Alaska on Polaris Sno-Travelers. At first it seemed a little far fetched. But the more Edgar thought about the potential such a trip would offer, he agreed to throw his and, effectively, Polaris Industries' support behind the trip.

However, the Polaris Board of Directors In 1959 Roseau couldn't grasp why Edgar, as president of a fairly successful farm machinery manufacturer, would personally lead an expedition of snow machines across Alaska. The value of potential publicity generated from such a trip was difficult for the board to estimate at the time.

Forty years later, the value of proving the value and durability of snowmobiling is easier seen. Edgar offers this perspective. "In 1959 snowmobiling was only five years old. Snowmobiles were not selling in 1959. People didn't trust them," he says, adding, "it (snowmobiling) was a terrible thing to do."

Despite the concerns of the Polaris board and regardless of the consequences, and there were to be some, Edgar and Erling Falk of Roseau, Minnesota, joined Rudy and Bessie Billberg of Bethel, Alaska, for the world's first Sno-Traveler expedition to Fairbanks.

On Friday, March 4, 1960, the four person team rode out of Bethel aboard two 10-horsepower Sno-Traveler Rangers and a 7-horsepower Sno-Traveler Trailblazer. The bigger engined machines each towed a freight sled loaded down with up to 900 pounds of fuel, food, weapons, and survival gear.

As Bessie Billberg wrote in her diary, "about 50 people came down to see us off."

Leaving at 1 P.M., the expedition made camp 26 miles later at 5:30 P.M. They made camp early to familiarize themselves with the tent and other gear.

Edgar's diary reflected his excitement about the 1,200 mile expedition to Fairbanks.

"The weeks and months of preparation that had begun back in Roseau, Minnesota, were over and the expedition was underway at last!"
He described his fellow team members this way. "The Billbergs have lived in Bethel and Fairbanks for many years… I dare say they are as well acquainted with this vast countryside as I am with the back of my throttle-hand.

"Rudy has been an Alaskan bush pilot for 20 years… He and I were raised together in Roseau… and he and I have for years dreamed of an Alaskan trip such as this.

"Erling Falk, quiet and reserved but always so dependable, is one of my top production men back at the Polaris factory…"

Erling Falk was that. He probably knew as much about the day-to-day workings and mechanics of the first Sno-Travelers as anyone at Polaris, with the possible exception of David Johnson.

The vehicles chosen were all powered by single cylinder, four cycle Kohler motors. Kohler, when the success of the expedition became obvious, prepared publicity and jointly promoted its Wisconsin-built engines and the Polaris Sno-Travelers.

The expedition reached Kalskag, about 100 miles from Bethel by Saturday night. Edgar's diary notes the excitement of the local native schoolchildren.

"When the children of Kalskag first sighted our party… they ran to their teachers and excitedly told them that "two sleds without dogs" were coming up the river."

At Kalskag he expedition hired local guides to take them over a difficult 48-mile portage to the Yukon River. It was tough going. Bessie wrote that the crew "… had to double hitch at times." They logged 48 miles, but were grateful to stay in a dirty old trapper's cabin at Paimut that evening.

It was a thrill to be traveling the Yukon, Edgar wrote. In Holy Cross the local children referred to the snow machines as "airplanes without wings." The dog-less sleds were to receive a lot of intense scrutiny.

Holy Cross, which was only 35 miles from Paimut, was selected for a couple of reasons, but Bessie's diary provides the key thinking. The group had engine trouble and, after going past the village, decided to return to fix all the engines for the trip ahead.

Edgar refers to the engine trouble as "…a routine check of our equipment and (to) make a few adjustments."